So we've come to the end of another year at the movies and by my list I've seen 44 films at the cinema - starting with Pitch Perfect 3 and ending with Vice. They couldn't be any further removed as films!
Overall it was a solid year though only 12 movies managed an 8/10 or better, there were 18 that scored either 7 or 7.5 which means largely it was a good year and I chose wisely ;-)
There was no real standout this year but there was one clear-cut lowest end - the Happytime Murders was so unfunny I'm not sure it even deserves the 2/10 I awarded it. If you haven't seen it - don't!
So I present my top five, you may have seen them or may not but rest assured the top five are all worthy of your time for different reasons.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (9/10)
Not surprisingly Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother who, frustrated with the local police's inaction, riles up trouble by posting provocative messages on three billboards outside her home town (Ebbing, Missouri of course). This provokes a war with the town Chief (Woody Harrellson) that leads in some interesting directions. A great cast, surprising and just a fantastic film and a worthy number one for the year.
Overall it was a solid year though only 12 movies managed an 8/10 or better, there were 18 that scored either 7 or 7.5 which means largely it was a good year and I chose wisely ;-)
There was no real standout this year but there was one clear-cut lowest end - the Happytime Murders was so unfunny I'm not sure it even deserves the 2/10 I awarded it. If you haven't seen it - don't!
So I present my top five, you may have seen them or may not but rest assured the top five are all worthy of your time for different reasons.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (9/10)
Not surprisingly Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother who, frustrated with the local police's inaction, riles up trouble by posting provocative messages on three billboards outside her home town (Ebbing, Missouri of course). This provokes a war with the town Chief (Woody Harrellson) that leads in some interesting directions. A great cast, surprising and just a fantastic film and a worthy number one for the year.
2. Call Me By Your Name (9/10)
"But to feel nothing so as to not feel anything - what a waste''. Arguably the movie quote of the year for mine and it comes from a film that's easily the most interesting of the year. Set in the 80s in Italy, it focuses on Elio (Timothee Chalamet in what I described at the time as the 'single best acting performance I can remember in recent times' and that stands) and the complicated relationship he develops with Oliver, a grad student who spends a summer working with Elio's father. There's a lot of ambiguity, it's a stunning setting and there's type of high drama that I really enjoy. Brilliant.
"But to feel nothing so as to not feel anything - what a waste''. Arguably the movie quote of the year for mine and it comes from a film that's easily the most interesting of the year. Set in the 80s in Italy, it focuses on Elio (Timothee Chalamet in what I described at the time as the 'single best acting performance I can remember in recent times' and that stands) and the complicated relationship he develops with Oliver, a grad student who spends a summer working with Elio's father. There's a lot of ambiguity, it's a stunning setting and there's type of high drama that I really enjoy. Brilliant.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (9/10)
I've been called a Marvel stooge or something to that effect (I should note Wonder Woman made by top five in 2017) but Infinity War promised so much and, boy, did it deliver. The build up of almost 10 years of stories had plenty riding on it and to keep so much of it secret really led to a big pay off at the end. I don't think anyone really saw it coming. The characters meshed so well, the dialogue is amusing and Thanos proved to be the villian that he was promised to be. Can't wait to see Endgame!
I've been called a Marvel stooge or something to that effect (I should note Wonder Woman made by top five in 2017) but Infinity War promised so much and, boy, did it deliver. The build up of almost 10 years of stories had plenty riding on it and to keep so much of it secret really led to a big pay off at the end. I don't think anyone really saw it coming. The characters meshed so well, the dialogue is amusing and Thanos proved to be the villian that he was promised to be. Can't wait to see Endgame!
4. Bohemian Rhapsody (8.5/10)
While the biopic of Queen's Freddie Mercury may not be entirely factual or at least correct in a timeline sense I thought it was unbelievably enjoyable. Remi Malek plays Mercury brilliantly from what I can see of old footage and the movie reminds you just how many amazing songs Queen is responsible for. I thought they held back some of the more salacious elements of Mercury's life quite classily while still alluding to them. A lot of fun and very interesting (despite some factual issues).
While the biopic of Queen's Freddie Mercury may not be entirely factual or at least correct in a timeline sense I thought it was unbelievably enjoyable. Remi Malek plays Mercury brilliantly from what I can see of old footage and the movie reminds you just how many amazing songs Queen is responsible for. I thought they held back some of the more salacious elements of Mercury's life quite classily while still alluding to them. A lot of fun and very interesting (despite some factual issues).
5. Boy Erased (8.5/10)
Based on the true story of Garrard Conley, this film focuses on church run gay conversion therapy programs and is a real eye-opener. The fantastic Lucas Hedges plays Jared who is sent to one such place in the early 2000s by his parents, a church pastor (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) after he is outed in terrible circumstances. I thought Joel Edgerton directed this one well, picking moments for high drama for the greatest effect. And it's not a preachy film either.
Based on the true story of Garrard Conley, this film focuses on church run gay conversion therapy programs and is a real eye-opener. The fantastic Lucas Hedges plays Jared who is sent to one such place in the early 2000s by his parents, a church pastor (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) after he is outed in terrible circumstances. I thought Joel Edgerton directed this one well, picking moments for high drama for the greatest effect. And it's not a preachy film either.
Honourable mentions: Just outside the top five were Black Panther and Ant Man & The Wasp (both 8.5/10). Some of the early year 'true stories' like The Post (Nixon vs the press) featuring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks (8/10) and The Darkest Hour (Winston Churchill) (also 8/10) were excellent viewing, Love, Simon (8/10) is a coming of age story with a difference done with heart, The Wife (8/10) features a great performance from Glenn Close, Christopher Robin (8/10) is just a delight and Beautiful Boy (8/10) was another superb Timothee Chalamet performance. A Star Is Born (7.5/10) was highly enjoyable though a bit too long, Creed 2 (7.5/10) a solid sequel and I very much enjoyed Bumblebee (7.5/10) restoring some faith in the Transformers universe.
Surprise of the year: Tough category. A Quiet Place (7.5/10) was a suspense/horror/thriller like nothing we've seen in a long time. It's actually quite creepy as a family tries to survive in a world invaded by alien beings who only need the slightest noise to find you. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are excellent and any film that can hold your attention with very little dialogue is an achievement. I hope they don't ruin it with a sloppy sequel, though.
Flop of the year: On the horror theme again it has to be Hereditary (4/10). Despite a pretty decent premise and a solid showing from Toni Collette what could have been a creepy, jumpy film just descended into being a ridiculous mess with an ending that's laughable. I just don't understand the rave reviews it received at the time, it's just garbage.
The film I wanted to like more: Aquaman (6/10). I had high expectations for one of the more interesting and entertaining members of the Justice League and I was really disappointed. Sure it was spectacularly made and Jason Momoa is excellent as the half human-half Atlantean hero but it just doesn't fit together. There's continuity issues and it was too long and while entertaining enough I had the feeling it could have been a lot better.
Letdowns: Aside from Aquaman I thought Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (6/10) was a poor retread, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (6/10) brought a once promising franchise to a disappointing end, Breath (6/10) was stunningly made but didn't go where it should have, Bad Times At The El Royale (6/10) had so much going for it that wasn't realised and The Crimes Of Grindlewald (7/10) while not bad was a step back from the excellent Fantastic Beasts and that franchise is on notice.
What lies ahead? All attention is obviously on Avengers: Endgame in April and the preceding MCU film Captain Marvel which will hopefully join a few dots. As always I'm hoping for some interesting dramas and I'd still love to see something fresh in a comedy. There's plenty of sequels coming up like It 2, John Wick 3, Toy Story 4 and all these Disney 'live-action' remakes of their animated classics. I really don't think Aladdin or Lion King should have been risked.
See you at the movies!
See you at the movies!
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